Moral Clarity in Gaza

Hamas has only one grievance: Israel's very existence.

Late Saturday, thousands of Gazans received Arabic-language cell-phone messages from the Israeli military, urging them to leave homes where militants might have stashed weapons. -- Associated Press, Dec. 27

Some geopolitical conflicts are morally complicated. The Israel-Gaza war is not. It possesses a moral clarity not only rare but excruciating.

Israel is so scrupulous about civilian life that, risking the element of surprise, it contacts enemy noncombatants in advance to warn them of approaching danger. Hamas, which started this conflict with unrelenting rocket and mortar attacks on unarmed Israelis -- 6,464 launched from Gaza in the past three years -- deliberately places its weapons in and near the homes of its own people.

This has two purposes. First, counting on the moral scrupulousness of Israel, Hamas figures civilian proximity might help protect at least part of its arsenal. Second, knowing that Israelis have new precision weapons that may allow them to attack nonetheless, Hamas hopes that inevitable collateral damage -- or, if it is really fortunate, an errant Israeli bomb -- will kill large numbers of its own people for which, of course, the world will blame Israel.

For Hamas, the only thing more prized than dead Jews are dead Palestinians.

For Hamas, the only thing more prized than dead Jews are dead Palestinians. The religion of Jew-murder and self-martyrdom is ubiquitous. And deeply perverse, such as the Hamas TV children's program in which an adorable live-action Palestinian Mickey Mouse is beaten to death by an Israeli (then replaced by his more militant cousin, Nahoul the Bee, who vows to continue on Mickey's path to martyrdom).

At war today in Gaza, one combatant is committed to causing the most civilian pain and suffering on both sides. The other combatant is committed to saving as many lives as possible -- also on both sides. It's a recurring theme. Israel gave similar warnings to Southern Lebanese villagers before attacking Hezbollah in the Lebanon war of 2006. The Israelis did this knowing it would lose for them the element of surprise and cost the lives of their own soldiers.

That is the asymmetry of means between Hamas and Israel. But there is equal clarity regarding the asymmetry of ends. Israel has but a single objective in Gaza -- peace: the calm, open, normal relations it offered Gaza when it withdrew in 2005. Doing something never done by the Turkish, British, Egyptian and Jordanian rulers of Palestine, the Israelis gave the Palestinians their first sovereign territory ever in Gaza.

What ensued? This is not ancient history. Did the Palestinians begin building the state that is supposedly their great national aim? No. No roads, no industry, no courts, no civil society at all. The flourishing greenhouses that Israel left behind for the Palestinians were destroyed and abandoned. Instead, Gaza's Iranian-sponsored rulers have devoted all their resources to turning it into a terror base -- importing weapons, training terrorists, building tunnels with which to kidnap Israelis on the other side. And of course firing rockets unceasingly.

The grievance? It cannot be occupation, military control or settlers. They were all removed in September 2005. There's only one grievance and Hamas is open about it. Israel's very existence.

Nor does Hamas conceal its strategy. Provoke conflict. Wait for the inevitable civilian casualties. Bring down the world's opprobrium on Israel. Force it into an untenable cease-fire -- exactly as happened in Lebanon. Then, as in Lebanon, rearm, rebuild and mobilize for the next round. Perpetual war. Since its raison d'etre is the eradication of Israel, there are only two possible outcomes: the defeat of Hamas or the extinction of Israel.

Israel's only response is to try to do what it failed to do after the Gaza withdrawal. The unpardonable strategic error of its architect, Ariel Sharon, was not the withdrawal itself but the failure to immediately establish a deterrence regime under which no violence would be tolerated after the removal of any and all Israeli presence -- the ostensible justification for previous Palestinian attacks. Instead, Israel allowed unceasing rocket fire, implicitly acquiescing to a state of active war and indiscriminate terror.

Hamas's rejection of an extension of its often-violated six-month cease-fire (during which the rockets never stopped, just were less frequent) gave Israel a rare opportunity to establish the norm it should have insisted upon three years ago: no rockets, no mortar fire, no kidnapping, no acts of war. As the U.S. government has officially stated: a sustainable and enduring cease-fire. If this fighting ends with anything less than that, Israel will have lost yet another war. The question is whether Israel still retains the nerve -- and the moral self-assurance -- to win.

About the Author

Charles Krauthammer is a sydicated columnist for the Washington Post, and a contributor on Fox News. He has been named by the Financial Times the most influential commentator in America, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 57

(56)
Wassim,
January 14, 2009 6:15 PM

Hate the sin, Love the sinner

Let us please keep in mind that people can be victims of their education. Yes, ultimately they are responsible for their actions, but they are only acting and reacting according to the way they've been programmed by their society, education system, culture, traditions... etc. To question Islam is a healthy approach, however to dismiss muslims as troublemakers in any country where they exceed 3% of the population is incorrect, misleading, very dangerous, and reveals a hidden anti-semitic stigma that is still prevalent in our world. I ask you this, why did the British and the French leave the education system in Arab countries in the state that it is in when they left. The answer is "because they don't care for the liberalisation and modernisation of the Arab mind. Blind sheep is what you want them to remain."... Well now the blind faithful are causing some trouble, let's show them that they are wrong! They have already lost their vision. We can either try to empower them (and restore their vision), or we can try to keep them in the dark and continue to hypocritically blame them for being blind!
FYI - China had more trouble with Buddhists-separatists in Tibet and American Christian Evangelists during 2008. Muslims are sheep without a shepherd, clinging to a way that served them well hundreds of years ago when the world was different.

Dvorah,
July 18, 2014 9:05 AM

The importance of Islamists' education validated in Israel

Actually the Israeli government also saw that point and in the Oslo accords the Palestinians committed themselves to changing the textbooks which presented the Israelis as the evil ones to be eradicated from the very 1st grade. They actually had simple math problems such as "five Israelis, kill two, how many left". Despite the agreement, nothing changed for the better.

(55)
Anonymous,
January 11, 2009 2:06 AM

Thanks for the subject article. It was very clearly and reasonably argued.

I believe that whether **or** not Israel "wins" the current round of this conflict as you have suggested depends on more than nerve **or** self assurance.
Israel is currently in my view, hamstrung by three consideration.
The first is the upcoming elections. Politicians tend to be pragmatists and particularly so when vying for political office. It is hard for them to reach consensus at the best of times, but it is extremely difficult for them to do so when personal political fortunes also come into consideration.
The second is world opinion. Israel seems to always lose the propaganda war as well as the popularity contest when dealing with Palestinian issues. While the other side is rallying Arab and Moslem communities to its cause Israel seem unable to mount its own credible defense internationally especially in the corridors of power where it matters most.
Third is Israel''''s moral position. You have made it very clear that because of Israel''''s dedication to a "clean" war it finds itself fighting, ostensibly, with one hand tied behind its back, while the enemy has both its hands free. This means Israel has to be either twice as good, **or** it must find a way of leveling the battlefield. You cannot win a war, and permanently subdue the enemy, if you have to tread on eggs while they can run on stepping stones.
These three consideration, elections, world opinion, and Israel''''s moral position will make defeating Hamas almost impossible without some major miscalculation on the part of Hamas **or** divine intervention.

(54)
Norma Fares,
January 9, 2009 5:30 AM

Circle of whom the capacity to understand is not abnormal.

I wish this article would bring more clarity to a fact i.e. Gaza's terror that is clear enough only for people who want and are able to understand facts. [Double Standart]Arab-regimes and their respective one-sided Media are not within that circle. Afraid that western world (UN on the top) and respective media are not within either. Thank you Charles Krauthammer for your [another] staright-to-the-point-article that excellently portrays the sad situation of today's conflict: Hamas-based-Gaza v/s Israel. Thanks Aish for giving me the opportunity to read such an important article.
God's blessings!
Norma

(53)
Saul Pillai,
January 9, 2009 4:31 AM

Islam - the rreligion of peace ?

All wars cause tragedies. Sadly enough the innocent bystanders are the victim and not the true masterminds (HAMAS).
I’m a Christian living for 5 generations in a Muslim country. I was born here and live and work among Muslims - men and women who profess to live moral and just lives under ISLAM the religion they claim is a RELIGION OF PEACE.
Yet I wonder… WHERE IS THE PEACE ? I don’t see nor feel it.
To me the PEACE (false peace) is only achieved when Muslims have their way.
THAT IS NOT PEACE !
Fellow readers of aish.com, in the Jewish and Christian faiths we are allowed and encouraged to pray for people of other faiths. In fact the ancient Temple in Jerusalem offered sacrifices for the nations of the world. Yet a Muslim individual is forbidden by his/her religion (Islam) from praying for others.
WHERE IS THE LOVE ? WHERE IS THE PEACE ?
The religion of peace (ISLAM) is not extending an olive branch but wielding weapons.
Muslims around the world, I respect you only as human beings but ask you to please start questioning your religion not just follow it blindly. Islam is leading too many people astray and causing more hatred among mankind. Friends we all know that hatred breeds more hatred… SHALOM to Israel and SHALOM to the whole world…

(52)
CHRISTIAN,
January 9, 2009 2:33 AM

Guillermo

Above all, we need to approach the very source of love in order to achieve real peace...and that is God. And not just from anybody's gods but from the true God of Israel. Anybody can express love, even an evil person is capable of loving his own kind. Many people today are arrogant and independent from God. They rely on their financial capacity, their own wisdom and their religion. It's a common humanistic idea that love is the answer when in fact God is the ultimate answer, He is the source of everything. Not everybody is willing to draw love from the real source, only those who are humble to admit that apart from Him we can do nothing. If God is before us, who can be against us!

(51)
Hammer,
January 8, 2009 11:30 PM

Thuis Muslim is a joker

You Muslim, your community causes problems in any country where your population exceeds 3%. China is a rare exception because it is as violent as your mullas, even then it had problems during the olympics. Even if you are 3% today in the next 10 decades you would have multiplied to 30%. Look what you did in Mumbai. Any country where you people are half or more in strength is a mockery of human rights and a nigntmare for minorities. I dont blame you , you are only following your Prophet in letter and deeds, your acts matching his. It is not about saying Salaam or avoiding kosher food , it is about blowing up your neighbors.
Every time non muslims are killed in terrorist attacks the muslim masses rejoice. Your "proper muslims" seem to be an insignificant and silent minority. Isreal is vcold hearted what about Hamas and Iran. Their hearts are not exactly overflowing with love. Israel has a right to defend itself even if it means flattening Gaza. They should have done it a long time back.

(50)
CHRISTIAN,
January 8, 2009 10:53 PM

To #44 Muslim

I think I'm the one you're referring to as "Anonymous". If Islam does not support terrorist and as you've said a religion of peace, how come ordinary Muslims around the world young and old are condemming Israel and at the same time showing their support to an internationally recognized terrorist group called Hamas, Hizbullah etc.? Could they not see who fired first? You Muslims always refer Islam as just, merciful and present yourself as peaceful people whenever your enemy fights back. I live in a country where there is a constant fight between Christians and Muslims. In my country, Christian farmers in previously Muslim dominated areas are accused by the Muslims of land grabbing just like the accusations made by the Arabs against the Jews. The fact is that the Christian settlers bought these properties from the Muslim owners. And now they want it back and said these properties were illegally acquired by Christians and that they belong to their forefathers. What a crazy idea! And when they don't get what they want, they start harassing the Christians in many ways like kidnapping etc.. And when the military intervenes in behalf of the Christians, they tell you words like "we're oppressed, we're innocent, we did not start the fight, we can leave peacefully with Christians, Islam is peace, it's the Christians who started the fight". Yeah sure... Are you kidding! Hey, I don't care if "Shalom" and "Salam" are synoymous or you look for Kosher food when there are no Halal. But this I'm sure, Muslims are not worshipping the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Your Allah is a Sun god and whatever stands between the God of Israel and you is an idol! Repent now before it's too late!

(49)
Aaron,
January 8, 2009 6:15 PM

Who are we looking at?

It is very easy to identify the faults of others. It is much more difficult (and valuable) to look at ourselves. Are we really changing the minds of others? I doubt it - these issues are too charged and everyone is on the defensive. I think it would be more valuable to consider our own actions, and what we might do for peace.
This post works on "pro-Israeli" and "pro-Palestinian" discussion boards equally. Feel free to spread it around.

(48)
Guillermo,
January 8, 2009 3:20 PM

From MLK's Nobel Prize speech

…….Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. If this is to be achieved, men must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love……
…….I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. "And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid."……..
Martin Luther King Jr

(47)
Wassim,
January 8, 2009 5:35 AM

I'm also Muslim!

I had a religious education in Lybia, and I totally concur with Gary. Islam is not a tolerant religion and it totally rejects being analysed, as if it is beyond the auspices of the human brain. I remember asking Why should we hate Jews in a mosque? There was no answer. But a few weeks later a sermon once again refered to Jews in an offensive and misleading manner. I had enough of that a long time ago. If I can't have a debate with GOD, and if GOD won't listen to my point of view, then I reject that GOD for he cannot represent me and who I am.

(46)
Anny Matar,
January 8, 2009 5:06 AM

Hopefully we'll do the right thing this time

There is a saying here in Israel "we won all the wars but lost the peace"
I have the pleasure of hearing one of our greatest Chief's of Staff, Dan Shomron,(who passed away a short while ago) who said that, after the Yom Kippur war at the Peace Treaty conference with Egypt, there he met with an Egyptian General who told him: "We have learned that we can't win a war against you, therefore we have decided to talk peace". Dan Shomron then added: "When Chamas reaches this conviction, then and only then will we have peace". This is what should really happen now and, unless we'll ignore, what Golda Meir called Um-Shmum, we'll not have won peace although we'll have won the war.

(45)
Gary,
January 8, 2009 3:23 AM

Ref(44)Muslim, Islam's belief's--your wrong 100%

My co-blogger 'MUSLIM' your 100% wrong in what you say about the Muslim belief. In the Quran it states:Quran tells Muslims to kill the disbelievers wherever they find them (Q. 2:191), to murder them and treat them harshly (Q. 9:123), slay them (Q. 9:5), fight with them, (Q. 8: 65 ) even if they are Christians and Jews, humiliate them and impose on them a penalty tax (Q. 9: 29). Quran takes away the freedom of belief from all humanity and tell clearly that no other religion except Islam is accepted (Q. 3: 85). It relegates those who disbelieve in Quran to hell (Q. 5:10), calls them najis (filthy, untouchable, impure) (Q. 9: 28). It orders its followers to fight the unbelievers until no other religion except Islam is left (Q. 2: 193). It says that the non-believers will go to hell and will drink boiling water (Q. 14: 17).
I won't even go into the morality of Muhammad, he lived a life quiet like you would not believe if written in stone.
Don't blog here and tell us about the mercy of Islam, be honest go back and read the references above, then tell us all about how merciful that belief is.
Now that Lebanon has joined Gaza in fighting the Jews it is evident that most of those believing in Islam's Quran have to be uninformed about the true meaning, hard to believe, it's written in PLAIN language. KILL non believers where ever you find them.
The war Israel is fighting is for their survival from threats of those who believe totally in the Quran and all that's in it.
Shalom to all

(44)
MUSLIM,
January 7, 2009 8:04 PM

Muslims do not hate Jews nor does Islam encourage Terrorism

It is ashame that "Anonymous" believes that MUslims hate Jews and that ISlam is pro-terror. Islam teaches us that jews and christians are "people of the book" and should be respected. ISlam also teaches us that if there is no HAlal food in an area then the first thing that a Muslim should look 4 is Kosher food. ISlam comes from the root word salam which means peace. When a Muslim greets a fellow Muslim he says, "Alsalam Alaikum" "peace be unto you". IN the Quran Allah The Merciful declares that he hates those who start wars. ISlam also teaches us that "the ink of a scholar is much more holier than the blood of the martyr". NOah, Abraham, MOses (peace be upon them all) are all mentioned in the Glorious Quran. ISlam also teaches us that if you kill one innocent person it is as if you killed all of humanity and if you save one person it is as if you saved all of humanity. So if you here about Muslims doing terrorists activities know that he is not acting as a proper Muslim nor is he following Islam. Now a Muslim is encouraged to end any form of injustice. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that if you witness an injustice the stop it with your hand, if you cannot due that then stop it with your mouth (speak out against it), if you cannot even due this then know in the bottom of your heart that what you witnessed was wrong and whoever does this has the lowest faith. I believe that both sides should stop the violence and have a cease fire. Jews say "Shalom" and Muslims say "Salam" so we should practice what we preach. A go against anyone who promotes or supports an attack against ISrael during a time of cease fire. ISlam goes against violence during a time of peace. i am also against ISraeli tanks, ships, and helicopters shooting at a Palestinian city filled with real palestinian civilians. This causes more civilian deaths and anger. It also makes me sick when palestinians fire missiles into a place where there are innocent Israelis. Right now however ISrael is proving itself cold-hearted by continuing its campaign of killing innocents in Gaza, they're using fear as a tactic. Like this is what happens when you get us mad. That fear of death doesn't affect the Palestinians or the Muslims. The only ones that are afraid are the leaders of the arab world who are afraid to get involved and demand a serious halt because ISrael has the most powerful military presence in the Middle-East and is backed by the biggest superpower in the world America! The country where i was born in and raised in! I hope that i did not offend anybody i was just on this site and i found it really interesting if i did however offend anybody or said anything wrong in this article then i apologize and that it is from my own shortcoming and if any good came out of this comment then know that it is from the Almighty Allah (or as many of you would say yahweh)
thanks and Shalom

(43)
Anonymous,
January 7, 2009 7:14 PM

We need to publicize the truth

Mr. Krauthammer, I was glad to note that your article originally appeared in the Washington Post. The fact of Israel's morality--ie, warning civilians prior to attack, vs. the immorality of the Palestinians (deliberately placing their own civilians/children in harm's way)--should be emphatically publicized, for the unacceptably criminal act that it is. The Palestinians are experts at twisting the truth via the media, we need more people to present the truth as it is.

(42)
yonason,
January 7, 2009 3:17 PM

SQUANDERING ONE'S TREASURE

"The Israelis did this [inform enemy of impending attack] knowing it would lose for them the element of surprise and cost the lives of their own soldiers."
That is a terrible sin, and one which the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke out against. They have NO RIGHT to risk Jewish live to protect ANY enemy, civilian or otherwise. No nation does this, and rightly so, because one's one are worth more than any enemy. And a Jewish life is a priceless treasure, not a pawn in some international game of appearances.

(41)
Gary,
January 7, 2009 10:25 AM

Humanitarian 3 hour "Cease Fire"

I see Israel allowed a 3 hours cease fire so the murdering terrorists, Hamas and Palestinians and their supporters can remove their dead that THEY have on their hands, not Israel.
I for one would NOT have given them one millisecond of humanitarian anything, let them sit with and ponder over their dead and maybe they would stop the attacks on innocent Israelis.
It demonstrates that Israel IS the most compassionate of all of them in the middle east.
Hamas and or the Palestinians or other terrorists trying to kill Jews would NOT do the same. They would,in my opinion,not only kill the Jews, but most likely beat and behead the remains. They are NOT to be shown any mercy. If this war is to be won, Israel must not do anything but fight to win, UNLESS Hamas, Palestinians and the rest of the radical Islamic mindset ACCEPTS the right of Israel to exist and stops killing Jews. They have shown that they are incapable of negotiating in any other manner than using suicide bombers, rockets and any other means to try and eliminate the state and people of Israel.
leader of Israel, the free peoples of the world will be on your side and support you. I would gladly pay extra taxes to protect Israel or anyone else from fanatics that use religion,politics or other excuses to try and enslave the world with their warped and pathetic idealistic philosophies.
Shalom my friends

(40)
Anonymous,
January 6, 2009 11:05 PM

wake up!

These "Palestinians" crying for their dead were the same people giving sweets on the streets during the 9/11. They often do these to celebrate the killing of their enemies specially Christians and Jews. Yet people around the world still believe that Islam is a religion of peace. Wake up world! You see photos and TV footage of "Palestinian" mothers carrying Kalashnikovs and four year old babies dressed-up like suicide bombers declaring "death to the Jews, to the Americans, to the infidels". Hey! The're are declaring war to the peaceful and civilized world! They should not complain when their grandparents, father, mother, children die because technically they are combatants. And the dead and the wounded "Palestinians" we see on newspapers and TV...come on! It's an old trick! They're Hamas fighters dressed in civilians clothes for propaganda purposes. It's always like that even im my country where we're continually fighting Muslims extremist separitists. Whenever our military iliminates some of their fighters they label them as "innocent civilians shot by trigger happy military". Go Israel! Don't mind the "civilian" casualties. Anyway, if they're really were civilians, they're the ones putting themselves in harm's way by installing Hamas in Gaza. Go Israel! Take back the Promise Land from border to border! The Almighty One is with you always!

(39)
Darlene,
January 6, 2009 10:16 PM

Do What Ever It Takes

I think Israel should do what ever it takes to destroy hamas, and any country bent on trying to wipe Israel of the map. God is watching over you Israel HE will not let you be destroyed.
I pray for protection and peace every day for Israel.
May God bless Israel.
I love you Israel and the Jewish people all the way over here in Western Canada

(38)
Tikveh,
January 6, 2009 8:44 PM

The Wounds of War

In any Revolotion there are lives that are shortened.Just remember the Days of Old Aaron,Joshua,Gideon,David they all frought for a just cause and the battle goes on.

(37)
Anonymous,
January 6, 2009 8:09 PM

What is Israel afraid of?l

Other nations opinion? Those nations cannot point a finger or pontificate on life and death .its a farce so why dont you push that button and get rid of them first.Isreal owes it to itself to do the honorable thing.or love them to your own death.

(36)
Wassim,
January 6, 2009 7:49 PM

Israel has the right

I was thinking about this issue late last night after submitting what some people might interprit as a cold-hearted post. I tried to rationalise that Israel should do what GOD might do, which is to tolerate the devil's existence... then I woke up from that piece of pacifism for the sake of preservation of human life... I concluded that Israel not only has the right to defend itself, but further more it has the right to smash its opposition. Israel doesn't need to politically manouver itself for eternity, it's about time it stood up as a force to be reckoned with. If the ignorant emotive majority won't respect you, why don't you demand it (respect) like any other superpower. All this talk of disproportionate force, I find it so ridiculous. If my enemy was stronger, and I persisted in throwing stones at a nuclear power, I only have myself to blame for my own demise. This is not a peaceful Ghandi-led civil disobedience movement, in the words of Bashar Al-Assad, "it is a country that democratically chose to be classified as terrorists". There's not a hint of peaceful intentions in their mentality. It's just revenge, liberate palestine, oust the Jews. Let it be known to everyone that Israel is not subject to International opinion until the majority of the world population passes their high school exams! Why isn't there any international outrage when these rockets kill innocent civilians! The double standards in the so called international community are enough to make me sick. The average Tom, Dick and Harry have the right to their opinions, but I would be stupid to be swayed by the opinions of average people. Seriously, IDF, get it done.

(35)
Mack Weinstein,
January 6, 2009 6:09 PM

only one solution

There can be only one solution to the war and unrest in the middle East- complete and permanent elimination of any group, nation, organization, or terrorist group that does not recoginze the State of Israel to exist. No one has the right to attempt to try to tell Israel what it must do in order to protect its citizens or its country.
Israel should eliminate any threat from Hamas.

(34)
Anonymous,
January 6, 2009 4:45 PM

The Problem of Religious Faith

When wars are fought over political ideologies or power or wealth, there is always hope for rational negotiation between the warring parties based on issues of fact. But wars based on religious faith (my god is stronger/better/truer) than your god, there are few facts on which to base a rational discourse. This is why the Iraq war is so much more dangerous than was the Vietnam war. I suggest that everyone concerned about the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the larger international threat of Islamic terrorism should read "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris. Unless the population of the world discards the ancient fairy tales and myths that are driving us toward oblivion, the 21st century will be civilization's last.

(33)
Yaacov,
January 6, 2009 9:11 AM

No such thing as moral clarity

It's a lie to think about this concept, it seems so to me.
Nowadays media is all about moneymaking, and this means rooting for the "underdog", so people can cheer for the "weak" sides and if they happen to win, readers will be happy with the lesson: the strong doesn't win all the time, and often sensationalist views on a daily basis on conflicts are what create this melodramatic reality novel. But it's odd how nobody talks about massacres happening currently at Africa, and many other places. Hypocrisy at it's best.

(32)
Gary,
January 6, 2009 7:33 AM

Media promotes more Violence

The world media is so unbalanced and seems to encourage wars and discourse between people.
This entire response is HAMA's fault, no one else's. Palestinians and Hamas are ONE now and they REAP WHAT THEY SEW.
Don't show me dead babies and broken bodies, Hamas will do that to every Jew they can find, Identify and Murder, no different than Hitler and his henchmen and they must be either crushed completely or accept Israel's right to exist in THEIR land and stop the violence.
Israel DID NOT attack GAZA first,Palestinian and Hamas terrorists kept on attacking Israel and Israel finally responded. This battle cannot allow anymore cease fires,or pauses for any reason,or Israel loses.

(31)
Gary,
January 6, 2009 4:22 AM

Is it REALLY about just Hamas and Palestinians etc?

If it weren't the Palestinians, Hamas, Al Queda and others, in my opinion, it would be another group fighting the Jews, just because they are Jews.
This is the legacy of the Muslim religion it would appear, nothing but hatred,intimidation, then murder, torture of innocents directed towards anyone or thing that doesn't subscribe to their beliefs or philosophy.
At 66 and a gentile, I have worked with and known Jews all my life, and not ONE has ever disrespected me or taken advantage of me, or anyone I know, unlike others I have known.
The myth that Jews 'are bad,greedy' and the list goes on is nothing but propaganda by those who just plain need someone or group to hate and once started it manifested into what we see today.
Israel has this tiny sliver of land, GAZA should have NEVER been given back, not one square centimeter should have ever been given up. I said when it occured,that it wouldn't make any difference and they would want more and more until Israel no longer exists and every Jew is dead or out of the middle east.
There is only one solution to this issue, and unfortunantly there will only ONE standing in the end. How tragic, that the radical Muslims in the middle east and elsewhere have never learned to live in peace and be tolerant of others regardless of their beliefs and resort to intimidation and violence, and are growing in new members every day. They are 'chomping at the bit" to do the same thing in the USA. Their hatred shows in many I have been around,in looks,mannerism and dialog. The radicals demand Islam as the world's "Religion" and death to all infidels, I call it domination and control or die belief.
Long live Israel and it's people and do not waver from victory over evil.

(30)
Wassim,
January 6, 2009 4:08 AM

Defeat Hamas

Hamas is an obstacle to peace. Finish them. All of them. Forget the hearts and minds for once, and simplly decimate the popuation. Fly in the face of international outrage, because you Israel are the standard for what is right and what is wrong. Any outrage is an outrage in itself. Hamas is an obstacle to peace at a time when there need not be any more obstacles. They must be destroyed. Do it.

(29)
Marc Milton-Talbot,
January 6, 2009 1:34 AM

BBC reports

I've just been listening to an interview on the BBC with an Israeli spokesman,What struck me was the insolent tone of voice being used by the interviewer,as if they were interviewing some Balkan general accused of mass murder.There is definitely a bias against Israel in the media.With this in mind,Israel must do whatever it thinks necessary to achieve its ends regardless of misinformed world opinion.The core of the problem now seems to be the Iranian Islamic dictatorship [not necessarily the ordinary Iranian in the street.]Their military and financial support is a huge boost to the likes of Hamas in Gaza.and Hezbollah in Lebanon.Unfortunately the longer you put off addressing a problem,the bigger it gets.Europe found out that to it's cost with Nazi Germany.Dealing with Hamas is like a surgeon removing a secondary tumor while leaving the primary to grow ever bigger.I wouldn't want to be the Israeli leadership faced with such a grave decision.

(28)
Luis,
January 5, 2009 6:47 PM

Believe The Reporters? Not On Your Life!

How many staged funerals, fake bombings, victims, wounded kids are we to view, before we say enough of this bias. Today's reporters are not into telling the truth, only what hurts the USA, Israel or the West. Are people/children dying? Yes, on both sides!! The Arabs want Israel to disappear, the reporters already made it happen in the eyes of the world.

(27)
Clayton,
January 5, 2009 3:20 PM

Tell the Truth to Whole World via the Internet

Dr. Krauthammer is an excellant spokesman for the Whole Truth of the Nation of Israel.(I see him almost daily on FOX ). Every Israeli, every world wide Jew, and
Christians that love all Jewish persons must counter the slanted liberal news media and Blogs. Post the truth to every blog available, forward Dr. K's message every contact possible. Teach your sons & daughters to use the Internet as a tool for getting out the truth to every Gentile site with a comments. Be kind, be correct and asseritve. (Fellow Gentiles, Americas future depends on it also)
May the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the Founding Fathers of America protect the IDF 'In Harms Way' and all Israeli Citizen.

(26)
Anonymous,
January 5, 2009 2:46 PM

There was a reason why former rulers of Palestine didn't give Gazans land control...

Charles Krauthammer is as usual right on the mark:
"Doing something never done by the Turkish, British, Egyptian and Jordanian rulers of Palestine, the Israelis gave the Palestinians their first sovereign territory ever in Gaza."
Heads of Israeli security warned Sharon that Israel would be in greater danger after a withdrawal from Gaza. He ignored them.
There was a reason why former rulers didn't give Gazans sovereign territory. Please, someone correct me if I am wrong, but the only reasons I heard for thie withdrawal were 1) to bring world opinion to our side (I say "our" because I'm a dual citizen) and 2) it was dangerous for our soldiers to be there defending the settlers. Now, am I missing something here, or isn't it the job of soldiers to defend their nation, and aren't the civilians in Sderot, etc. now exposed to danger because of the withdrawal of those soldiers?

(25)
Helen-Marie Gordich,
January 5, 2009 2:27 PM

SICK TO MY STOMACH

Some Americans make me sick when I see them damning Israel for trying to protect themselves from the murderous Hamas but not saying a word during all the bombing Hamas has been dropping on Israel for months now. where is the reasoning?

(24)
Irene,
January 5, 2009 1:54 PM

Israel the apple of God's eye

It hurts to here how Israel is always being blamed for everything it is never the Hamas that is doing anything wrong. The media always sides with the Palestinians. God will always stand up for Israel for they are the apple of His eye. Israel always seems to do the humanitaian thing before they even started bombing they sent warnings into Gaza. The Hamas never did anything like that they just sent rockets into Israel and strapped bombs unto themselves to kill innocent people. They blow up busloads of people and then they celebrate. How inhumane can someone be? They have no respect for human life not even their own people. They teach their children to hate. How can they live with themselves. Israel has every right to protect their people. I give the IDF praise for what they are doing. Any country has a right to protect their people. This country was given to the Jews by God through Abraham and no one has the right to tell them to they have to give up their land. We are blessed to have inherited our Judeo systm from God's people the Jews. God be with you Israel I will continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Shalom my friends

(23)
Nin,
January 5, 2009 1:11 PM

JEWS AND MUSLIMS

I AM A NATIVE NEW YORKER AND I REMEMBER VERY WELL HOW THE MIDDLE EAST CELEBRATED THE DEATH TOLL BIN LADEN CAUSED BUT ACCORDING TO THEM THE CREAM ON THE ICING WAS WHEN THE TOWERS COLAPSED,,THEY REALLY PARTIED THEN. NOW THEY ARE BEING FOUGHT BACK BY ISREAL AND NOW AMERICA IS GOOD ENOUGH TO HELP THEM?? PLEASE MUSLIMS, WE KNOW THAT YOU HATE US AS MUCH AS YOU HATE THE JEWS AND IF IT WAS UP TO ME, AN AMERICAN, OUR COUNTRY WOULD BE CLOSED FOREVER TO YOU AND YOUR BACWARD VIOLENT WAYS. I WORKED FOR JEWS ALL THROUGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BACK HOME IN NY AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD ONE OF THEM EVEN RAISE THEIR VOICE TO ME or ANY OF THEIR OTHER EMPLOYEES. ONE MONTH OUT OF YEAR I WORKED WITH JEWS IN SHARON SPRINGS. I LOVED MY TIME WITH THOSE HITLER SURVIVORS. THEY THE JEWS FROM MY EXPERIENCE ARE VERY PEACEFUL PEOPLE. THE JEWS DIDN'T DESTROY THE TWIN TOWERS IN NY AND KILL THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE MUSLIMS DID. HOW CAN ANY BIBLE SAY DEATH TO A RACE BECAUSE OF THEIR PEACEFUL BELIEVES?? or EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T PEACEFUL WE ARE NOT GOD AND GUESS WHAT MUSLIMS NEITHER ARE YOU SO WHY DON'T YOU LET GOD DEAL WITH THEM INSTEAD OF YOUR HATE AND VIOLENCE. IT SOUNDS TO ME THE MUSLIMS ARE READY TO COMMIT GENOCIDE ON THE JEWS, SOUND FAMILIAR??? AND WHAT ABOUT ARABIA, THEY ARE RICH AND CLAIM TO LOVE THEIR FELLOW MUSLIMS WHY ARENT THEY HELPING THEIR PEOPLE. AS AWFUL AS THEY TREAT THEIR WOMEN AND GIRLS NOW THEY WANT TO PARADE THEM WHEN HURT AND SAY LOOK WHAT ISREAL DID WHEN THEY WILL KILL AND BURN TO DEATH THEIR WOMEN IN A MINUTE. AS A MATTER OF FACT ISN'T IT AGAINST THE LAW FOR A WOMAN TO EVEN DRIVE IN ARABIA???. I RATHER BE DEAD THAN TO BE A WOMAN IN A MUSLIM COUNTRY. GO FIGURE!!!

(22)
Marcia,
January 5, 2009 1:01 PM

Krauthammer is absolutely, 100 percent right on the money. If Palestinians are so eager for a state of their own, why did they not take advantage of getting the Gaza Strip back? No, instead, they destroyed greenhouses and most likely other buildings the Israelis left standing, established no industry, courts or civil society, they built no roads. All their primary efforts went to firing rockets indiscriminately into Israel.I feel sorry for the Palestinians caught in the middle of this, but they, too, could help fight Hamas and get rid of them once and for all. I have to believe that these people are not so stupid as to enjoy having an all-out war with Israel, nor that they hate Israel more than they hate having their land, buildings and people blown up! If so, then what a number the terrorists have done on them!!

(21)
H L,
January 5, 2009 12:56 PM

UN for human rights? where are they?

As someone pointed out to me recently, even if Israel wasn't in the picture and the UN wasn't condoning it for it's "war" on Gaza, the UN should be condoning Palestinians for inhumane treatment of their own kind: teaching their young the art of suicide. Taking away their right to live. But the UN does nothing of the sort. Since when are human rights subjective in this way?

(20)
Well Wisher,
January 5, 2009 12:40 PM

anti-semitism

Has the world media become disciples of the Volkischer Beobachter and Der Sturmer? I write as a Christian Zionist(not an Evangelical). How else can one account for it systematic distortion of what actually happens.

(19)
Yonah,
January 5, 2009 12:00 PM

To coin our British freinds,Hear, hear.

(18)
Theodore Fettman,
January 5, 2009 10:24 AM

Unfortunately, Israel has few friends and many enemies (committed to her extinction).
They include, among other despicable adversaries:
- anti-Semites who are so blinded with hate, they will not see the truth
- large and influential segments of the media that promulgates anti-Israel propaganda while minimizing injury to the Jewish people (virtually ignoring the Holocaust, for example, while in progress).
- Arab wealth which buys influence in government and educational institutions inculcating anti-Israel and anti-Semitic attitudes and actions
- Muslim extremists that terrorize their own populations
- self-hating Jews, from professors on down who for reasons of lack of moral strength fail to stand-up against their victimhood and/or for reasons of unhealthy self-interest
- tyrants and authoritarians to whom the ethics of Judaism are anathema
- knee-jerk "humanitarians" who fail to discern the true "underdogs" in this titanic struggle of democracy vs totalitarianism
Isreal and its allies must find the strength, fortitude and werewithal necessay in order to overcome and survive.
-

(17)
Michael,
January 5, 2009 10:17 AM

Please succeed ...

While catholic, I worry for you. Please succeed in your actions...
I have argued before with shi'ites, and realize that they are passionate, and unrelenting people who will twist truths without remorse.
With respect to the Media, Diplomatic and hamas (lower case for disrespect) noise -- a shallow brook is noisy.
-m

(16)
Marilyn Bennett,
January 5, 2009 10:11 AM

A masterful analysis.

Dear Mr. Krauthammer, If only this article could be read by all Jews, they would better understand what Israel is up against. It is time to take off the velvet gloves. Israel must do more to impress the Islamic mind. Only raw power will do that in this case.
As Koheleth says, "There's a time to fight" That time is NOW!!

(15)
Moshe Rosen,
January 5, 2009 7:50 AM

ambiguity

Some sources such as biased that claim to be truthful, as well as the UN say Israel is "violating international law". Since when is self-defense against a terrorist organization as Hamas a UN violation? It's bad enough that the international community comes off as sympathetic to such Islamic fundamentalists, and even ignoring that they use Palestinians as human shields as a means to enhance their propaganda. Lately, I've been more turned off than ever from such biased websites that are either liberally and conservatively biased as a result of the ongoing battle in Gaza. Thus, I prefer getting my news sources from those that are either wholesome, balanced, or subtle in the least.

(14)
mathew,
January 5, 2009 7:47 AM

what you can do

Israel must do war on another major front, the public media! the whole world is dependent on what the public media reports and then opinions formed based on that. why cant Israeli govt start a Voice of Israel, similar to Voice to America? make use of the media to win your war, not just tanks and missles.

(13)
Gary,
January 5, 2009 5:24 AM

"Cease Fires"....Have proven to be a Joke

Hamas and 'cease fire' are the exact opposites. Cease Fire to Hamas is nothing more than a "regroup and re arm" period and formulate new tactics to kill Jews.
This hate against Jews has been going on for centuries and will not stop until one or the other either says "We Want Peace" and changes their goals to kill Jews as a sport and accepts and recognizes the State of Israel's existence. If that doesn't occur then one or the other will eventually be eliminated and 'cease fires' will continue forever.
Now Iran called for a complete shutdown of oil flows to ALL Israel supporters, if this happens the world's supporters against EVIL,the evil being the goals and beliefs of Hamas,Iran,Syria and others, I believe we USA and others will then be at WAR with Iran just like the Japanese did to the USA when we cut off Oil flow to them prior to Pearl Harbour.
The Islamic world is looking for a valid reason to begin the prophisized Har-Magedon, Mount of Megiddo.
What a sad legacy for mankind that we cannot get along in peace and accept each others customs and beliefs.Losses of life on either side of any issue is a sad event.

(12)
K. S.,
January 5, 2009 2:01 AM

RE: #6 israel needs to show

The problem is not that Israel isn't working on its PR- the problem is the TV and news are not interested in their side.
Reuters , for example, is consistently anti-Israel. It is known that they are supported by Islamic sources.

(11)
gary Katz,
January 4, 2009 11:25 PM

The solution is really quite simple

If Hamas wants to live in peace, all they have to do is stop trying to murder Jews. I guess this is too tough for them, given their fanatic, murderous nature. Personally, I am perplexed by much of the sympathy bestowed upon the Gazans by the West. After all, the Gazans are the fools who voted Hamas into power. What would Africans think of us if we voted the Klu Klux Klan into office? The West should also have fond memories of Palestinians celebrating such festive occasions such as 9-11, the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia (after all, it had an Israeli astronaut on board), and Saddam's SCUD bombardment of Israel during the first Persian Gulf War. Moreover, the rest of the world never seems to ask the basic question, "Why does a place like Gaza need thousands of rockets?" Rockets have no military value, they cannot be guided toward Israeli troops or equipment. Their only function is to fire randomly at civilian population centers, to murder innocent people. So the very fact that Hamas acquired such weapons in such vast numbers reveals their true intentions. This realization leads to the next irony that all their protests of "genocide" and "Holocaust" are belied by their own choices of weapons and intent. Every one of the 3500 rockets and mortars fired into Israel during 2008 was meant to kill civilians. Every one. The only condemnation coming from Abbas was that such actions do not help the Palestinian cause. I would have appreciated even a handful of Palestinians stating such rocket attacks are immoral. But I'm not holding my breath.

(10)
Joe Whitehead,
January 4, 2009 9:46 PM

Israel's wrongs

I'm sorry but I must say Israel is guilty for what's happening in Gaza. When they offered Jewish land unto the god of Allah what else could they expect? The sad part is that when more Jewsih land of the so-called West Bank is offered to the god of Allah, what's happening in Gaza now won't seem near as bad!

(9)
Yehudis,
January 4, 2009 7:09 PM

How dare they?

"The other combatant is committed to saving as many lives as possible -- also on both sides.. The Israelis did this knowing it would lose for them the element of surprise and cost the lives of their own soldiers."
How DARE Israel sacrifice our boys in favor of our enemy? How utterly despicable. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

(8)
Mike Biever,
January 4, 2009 1:32 PM

DO NOT ACCEPT PERPETUAL WAR

The intentions of Hamas are transparent: to them a cease-fire is a "break" to re-arm and get ready to start again. Enough (so-called) cease-fires and the next thing you know the rockets are bigger, go farther, and inflict more damage and casualties. Forget opinion, forget the empty promises, do as much right now to beat Hams into the ground.

(7)
Baljeet Singh,
January 4, 2009 12:17 PM

The provocation has to STOP!

It is time Israel put a stop to Hamas and its likes.
It is time to say ENOUGH to Hamas's provocation...
Instead of building Gaza they turned it into a terrorist state and to terrorize the civil world with their cowardly acts.
Isreal has every right to defend its self from war mongering, hate filled barbarians who think of virgins after life on earth!
GOD bless and protect Isreal!
From : Baljeet Singh

(6)
Sam Brewer,
January 4, 2009 12:12 PM

israel needs to show what hamas has inflicted upon it Graphically

I have been brought up to value the Jewish state and Jewish ideals, but I work with Non-Jews who quite honestly do not give a damn about Israel, Arabs and the Right to the Holy Land.
All they see on TV, in their homes, or in the press, night after night, day after day is Arabs being killed or maimed etc by Jews.
And they ask me "If the Jews are right, why do they have to do such terrible things to innocent people?"
Why doesn't Israel wake up and send in a team of photo-journalists and record on TV /Video EVERY single atrocity that the Arabs/Hamas commit. So that we (the Jews) start to saturate the world TV stations CNN/ SKY/BBC etc etc with graphic shots of an elderly women covered in blood being rushed to hospital, a young mother with her baby injured from a rocket whilst shopping for nappies, a group of students playing soccer injured in a school field at lunch. And so on
We have to have the images, but we have this stubborn belief that a Jew doesn't show off his/her grief/tragedy in public. Well, unfortunately, TV is the way the world understands/ communicates today.
And when an average person comes home from work tired and hungry, who does he or she believe ? the TV news broadcaster short and snappy or a long sermon/ discussion on the historical right to the land.
As the Americans say, it is a No-Brainer!!
We have to start using the latest forms of communication and swing world opinion back where it belongs.
In Israel's favour.
People should believe that if someone sticks a rocket out of a window and shoots at you, and hurts a member of your community, then you have a right to retaliate. but you must show the world what happened to that member of your community.
Shmuel Brewer
Advertising Lecturer

(5)
Regina caldas,
January 4, 2009 11:58 AM

It's true.

Yes, The world need moral clarity to understand that the real problem to Hamas is only one, to extirpate Israel from there.

(4)
jacobo lashak-korogodsky,
January 4, 2009 11:19 AM

THE ECUATION BETWEN THE MUSLIM WORLD AND ISRAEL.

YHE MUSLIM WORLD IS NOW A 1500 MILLIONIM PEOPLE, GROWING FASTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND. THEY WILL BE 3000 MILLIONIM AROUND 2030 AND THEY HAVE LAND BIGGER THAN ALL AFRICA CONTINENT, THESE IS 30 MILLIONIM SQ-KILOMETRIM, TREE TIMES THE USA, PRODUCING A GDP(PPP) OF OVER 7 TRILLIONIM DOLLARIM A YEAR, AND THE ARE THE RICHEST PER-CAPITA COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.QATAR,KUWAIT,BAHRAIN,BRUNEI,UAE,AN THE POOREST OF THE POOR COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. BURKINA FASO,SIERRA LEONE, SOMALIA, DJIBUTI,ERITREA,NIGER,YEMEN, AFGHANISTAN ,BANGLADESH,AND THE MUSLIM ARABS IN SAMARIA, JUDEA AND GAZA.AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ECUATION , IS LITTLE ISRAEL, WITH LESS THAN 5.5 MILLIONIM JEWS.IN LAND SMOLLER THAN EL SALVADOR, SMOLLER THAN BELIZE, SMOLLER THAN HAITI, SMOLLER THAN BELGIUM, SMOLLER THAN MOLDOVA, SMOLLER THAN ARMENIA, SMOLLER THAN TAIWAN, SMOLLER THAN RWANDA, SMOLLER THAN DJIBUTI, SMOLLER THAN LESOTHO. AND YOU DON´T EXPECT THAT ISRAEL MUST DEFEND HERSELF AGAINST THE ARAB OIL MONEY FROM IRAN , AND THE GRAD-ROCKETS FROM RUSSIA AND CHINA .

(3)
joe becker,
January 4, 2009 9:52 AM

During World War ll when the USA was sending wave after wave of bombers over Berlin they weren't worried about the civilians that would be injured, the plan was to pound the Germans into total defeat period. The same with Japan, the USA saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans by
using the bomb not once but twice. It worked Japan surrendered with-in days.
Israel must pound the Hamas until there is nothing left of them even if it means
total destruction of the Gaza. Who cares what the Arab world thinks they hate us anyway. A total crushing defeat to the Hamas in Gaza will make Iran and friends think twice about attacking us. The message we will send is "you hate us Jews you want to destroy Israel bring it on and you will be the ones destroyed". Like a bully in the school yard, he will pick on you until you get
the nerve to beat the living crap out of
him then he will never pick on you again. Boy do I like to rant and rave! Good luck to Israel I love you with
all my heart and sole may G-d protect you and watch over you and keep his hand
on every brave soldier in this horrible
conflict - JB

(2)
Anonymous,
January 4, 2009 9:46 AM

In agreement with Dr. Krauthammer's assessment

I not only agree with the points laid out in this article but I am appalled that the Secreatary General of the UN and members of the security council do not see the terriorist agenda of Hamas. It is dereliction of their duties to not see the total picture in the gaza and wwat bank regions. Don't innocent Israeli lives count too?

(1)
susannah garbutt,
January 4, 2009 8:06 AM

two sides to every story but not according to tv news reports

Hello. I have noticed that gradually, over perhaps the last ten years a gradual but persistent trend in media and other areas of life (it is politically incorrect to not be pro palestinian) as I said, two sides to every story, but in Israel - Palestinian situation, only one side ever mentioned usually - very rare to see results and figures re Hamas bombs.
Even an imam here, whom I regarded highly for his intelligence and calm approach, once he was promoted to chief Imam of Australia,he marched in protest over the Lebanon/Hezbollah war - I was disappointed, as I thought he would have seen through their tactics, but ?this imam had to appear to be in solidarity with his flock no matter his own judgement. The other bloke had to be removed due to what was (by anyone else here) actual racial/ethnic vilification of our mixed population, women,our convict beginnings, you name it, he insulted us - it went on far too long,and the council should have stopped it the minute he started,that he did not lose his position when the insults began (exhibiting utter prejudice and ignorance re our country, population, religions, freedoms etc) it looked as though the Islamic Council agreed with his comments, leading to the following - caused uproar and cemented already poor Muslim/Christian etc relations (eg a ''race'' riot on a beach in Sydney over the multiple and calculated mass gang rapes of several of our young women, (the rapist in charge made sure that none of their victims were Muslim - (I think the rapists would have been killed by their own if they did this to Muslim girls) - anyway, the riots were so ugly that the police had to protect a person of ''middle eastern appearance'' there otherwise the mob would possibly have killed him - and now, due to the eternal delay in getting rid of the Sheik who wound everyone up often (biting the hand that fed him), there is now a very significant anti-muslim attitude here, which is a tragedy. It need not have happened. What is happening now, as you are aware, is that media reporting is biased, the truth (first casualty in a war) has disappeared, but the most concerning worry to me is that anti-semitism is creeping back into Western culture and true to Hamas'' tactics (same as Vietnam War, it was lost on the streets of USA), everyone is blaming (again) Israel.having read a couple of large tracts on net re Palestinian refugees etc, and Israeli feelings, I feel very sad about the impossible situation this really is, for both sides - it''s like northern Ireland - most tragic, but anyway, just wanted you to know that I am aware of the shift in media and academic sentiment from Israeli cause etc to Palestinian cause. I''m not judging anyone, how can I, but one last comment I would like to say is - thank you for the deeply Jewish foundation we Christians have inherited. I am just so grateful for being brought up with your Jewish wisdoms, values and codes for life. There is so little difference I can hardly discern a separation between the two codes - once again, good luck and shalom

My nephew is having his bar mitzvah and I am thinking of a gift. In the old days, the gift of choice was a fountain pen, then a Walkman, and today an iPod. But I want to get him something special. What do you suggest?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Since this event celebrates the young person becoming obligated in the commandments, the most appropriate gift is, naturally, one that gives a deeper understanding of the Jewish heritage and enables one to better perform the mitzvot! (An iPod, s/he can get anytime.)

With that in mind, my favorite gift idea is a tzedakah (charity) box. Every Jew should have a tzedakah box in his home, so he can drop in change on a regular basis. The money can then be given to support a Jewish school or institution -- in your home town or in Israel (every Jews’ “home town”). There are beautiful tzedakah boxes made of wood and silver, and you can see a selection here.

For boys, a really beautiful gift is a pair of tefillin, the black leather boxes which contain parchments of Torah verses, worn on the bicep and the head. Owning a pair of Tefillin (and wearing them!) is an important part of Jewish identity. But since they are expensive (about $400), not every Bar Mitzvah boy has a pair. To make sure you get kosher Tefillin, see here.

In 1944, the Nazis perpetrated the Children's Action in the Kovno Ghetto. That day and the next, German soldiers conducted house-to-house searches to round up all children under age 12 (and adults over 55) -- and sent them to their deaths at Fort IX. Eventually, the Germans blew up every house with grenades and dynamite, on suspicion that Jews might be in hiding in underground bunkers. They then poured gasoline over much of the former ghetto and incinerated it. Of the 37,000 Jews in Kovno before the Holocaust, less than 10 percent survived. One of the survivors was Rabbi Ephraim Oshri, who later published a stirring collection of rabbinical responsa, detailing his life-and-death decisions during the Holocaust. Also on this date, in 1937, American Jews held a massive anti-Nazi rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

In a letter to someone who found it difficult to study Torah, the 20th century sage the Chazon Ish wrote:

"Some people find it hard to be diligent in their Torah studies. But the difficulty persists only for a short while - if the person sincerely resolves to submerge himself in his studies. Very quickly the feelings of difficulty will go away and he will find that there is no worldly pleasure that can compare with the pleasure of studying Torah diligently."

Although actions generally have much greater impact than thoughts, thoughts may have a more serious effect in several areas.

The distance that our hands can reach is quite limited. The ears can hear from a much greater distance, and the reach of the eye is much farther yet. Thought, however, is virtually limitless in its reach. We can think of objects millions of light years away, and so we have a much greater selection of improper thoughts than of improper actions.

Thought also lacks the restraints that can deter actions. One may refrain from an improper act for fear of punishment or because of social disapproval, but the privacy of thought places it beyond these restraints.

Furthermore, thoughts create attitudes and mindsets. An improper action creates a certain amount of damage, but an improper mindset can create a multitude of improper actions. Finally, an improper mindset can numb our conscience and render us less sensitive to the effects of our actions. We therefore do not feel the guilt that would otherwise come from doing an improper act.

We may not be able to avoid the occurrence of improper impulses, but we should promptly reject them and not permit them to dwell in our mind.

Today I shall...

make special effort to avoid harboring improper thoughts.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...